Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-07-18
ONLY A CONVICT.


lIlst ia time 10 see IA young man, clad in
the coarse Garh of a convict. rush into the
| little summer house where she was sitting.
| Save ine' cried the painting fugitive.
My life is al stake"
| One glance at the mans face decided
the lady. She heard the steps of the pur-
suer>.
I nder here! Quick" WAS her imperi-
ou> order.
| lose Garcia, in spite Of his alarm. could
not Restrain a smile But il WAS no time
{" hesitate. Without word he crawled
umirr the folds of the hight fabric on
which the LADY WAS plying her needle and
which rippled over her lap and Law piled
/ mp ~ her feet
SITTING with his back against the sen
| ora knees. the convict WAS securely con
cestie'l from View
!; MAS mot "a moment too soon An Off
Ger. with squad o' soldiers appeared a;
the d""r ot The summer house.
The convict, sonora. did you see hims''
inquired the officer hreathessly.
Il heard shots. and the footsteps of
| some one running rapidly" " replied the
| indy. by all means search the plac. be-
fore you leave"
With effusive thanks. the officer at
once proceeded tO search the grounds, and
the sonora : house was also subjected Ia
n Close scrutiny
Again | thank you" said the com
mander of the squad. approaching the
summer house; but the william is not
here, and we must be off in a hurry"
lie waved his hand gracefully and dis
appeared with the soldiers down the road
lose Garcia emerged from under his
protecting cover
lie was "a man Of small stature. sincu-
LARRY active and wiry, and his face might
have l.ecn called handsome. 1t certainly
iih not lunk like "a convict face
''Senora, you have saved my life, - he
said in voice Of deep emotion.
Then am very glad answered the
lady. Perhaps was wrong. but could
not see YOU hunted down and shot like a
wild beast
She looked at his costume and shud-
dered
'Doubtless You are a very had man, -
She continued, 'or they would not have
;ried 10 kill you. But l wanted 10 give
you a chance. hope you will get away;
and if you feel grateful to me, do try To
keep out Of trouble"
.Iose gave a low laugh. His bold eyes
for the first time took in the little lady
completely. He noted her pale face with
the lines Of suffering aruuni the eyes
Then he looked at her black costume
The sonora is a widow he said, pity
ingiy; II trust that she has good friends
She deserves them"
oh. no." was the hasty reply MY
husband lives. He is DIR. Miramon," and
size drew herself up proudly. Il wear
l.l. h.. Il .sa 4.
prisoner and there is no hope that he will
ever he restored 10 me. But he wears no
convict stripes. His offense was political
Yon may have heard Of his pamphlet" "
jose Garcia had heard of it, He knew
that DIR MiramOn had been arrested he
cause he had written against the gov
ernment.
This little place - said the sonora, lis
not mine. | rent it and live here with
two old servants, who are devoted 10 me
But for them there would be nothing in
store for me but starvation. II makes
littl~ difference, perhaps. as my husbands
health is giving way under his cruel con-
Iinement, and his death will be the signal
for mine.
TIL" shades Of evening were falling, and
the Lady gathered up her work with the
If can ever help you, senora,'' said
the convict. earnestly, "i will AT any cost.
Ten thousand thanks for Your kindness.
Adios''
And Jose Garcia darted across the road,
taking good care not 10 head i'll the direc
tiOn of Havana, only mile or 50 away.
When morning dawned Garcia found
himself at the cabin Of one Of his old
in .rinn. H.. .pfarni boldly
and was heartily welcomed and provided
with "a breakfast and change Of gar
menfs
Although robber like Garcia, the
dweller i'll the cabin was true 10 his
friends, and in some things honest TO n
fault
When Gomez heard the story of Gar
cia's escape he opened his eyes with an ex-
clamafiOn of establishment.
Il am sorry Tor the good sonora, he
said. "Her husband is a clever man. He
was s.ntenced 10 pay fine Of 900 or
he imprisoned ten years. He cannot pay
the fine, and he will die in less than a
Year.
Garcia scratched his head and looked
thoughtful Then he stepped outside and
did some seriouS thinking.
''You pig headed rubber!'' He was adj
dressing himself You Jail bird, you
have just one chance to make a man Of
yourself There will lie reward offered
for You and it viii lie II big one. probably
$1,000 Sooner or later you will be
caught anyhow. Why not trick the gov
ernment out of that reward and make the
little sonora happy by securing her
husbands liberty
The idea appeared 10 tickle Garcia He
laughed immoderately, and then wiped
away a tear.
Il am going crazy, | think was his
next remark, but ought to be willing
TO do anything for the sonora. Ii does
not matter whether die now or get shot
in the back by the soldiers few weeks
later
As Jose Garcia prOmcnaded up and
down in his friends garden talking TO him.
self, the hard lines i'll his face gradually
vanished \ softer look came into his
eyes. He stood erect, and lie WAS the last
man that would have been taken for a
hunted convict.
Il must talk with Gomez" he said,
.and have him manage it. III make him
swear 10 do IT,
There was a quiet talk between the two
Trends, ana blbllltE. diti hiahf o'J'N
and protests, finally agreed 10 slip into
| Havana and fiud out the situation.
At 10 o'clock thas night two cluaked hg'
| ures entered the gate at the captain gen
erals palace One of them had his arms
| pinioned behind him, but his cloak ma MS
| condition from the passers by.
Ii took fierce and earnest solicitation 10
obtain an audience with the captain gen
eral. but the strangers at last found them
selves in the presence Of that awful func'
tlonary.
Il bring You Jose Garcia, the famous
robl,er and murderer, for whom yonr ex'
cellencv has offered $4,000. dead oI
alive" said Gomez, i'll Il swelling, boast
| ful tone.
He stripped of Garcia hat and cloak
and the prisoner hung his head.
.'You have done well, said the captain
general, eyeing Gomez sternly, but how
was this red handed desperate captured:'
Il found him asleep i'll the woods, wa
! the glib reply, and knowing the rascal Z
face only too well. for lie robbed Inc ono
al